Rugby fans were saddened with the news that Joeli Vidiri and Va’aiga Tuigamala had departed for eternal rest.
Both were stars of their own time and contributed so much to the development of rugby. I watched both of them play, and I pay tribute to their lives, thanks to The Guardian and Wikipedia!
Joeli Vidiri, the gasman
Joeli Vidiri played for the All Blacks 7s and 15s.
He played as a wing. Vidiri studied at Queen Victoria School at Matavatucou in Tailevu. He represented Fiji in 15s and 7s before going to New Zealand in 1994.
He played for the Auckland Blues in the Super 12 competition then, and he represented Counties Manukau in the National Provincial Championship.
He only managed to play two Tests for the All Blacks in 1998.
In 2001 he was diagnosed with a kidney illness and placed on dialysis treatment like his fellow Auckland Blues winger Jonah Lomu.
Vidiri played in the Super 12 for the Auckland Blues from 1996 until 2001, where he scored 43 tries in 61 games, at the time an individual record.
In 2000, Vidiri created the record for most tries scored in one match scoring four against the Bulls, a record which has since been broken when the late Sean Wainui scored five tries against the Waratahs in 2021.
He had a song named after him, ‘Give Me Hope Joeli’, that was popular with the Auckland Blues fans at home games at Eden Park. Vidiri appeared in only five Super 12 matches in 2001, with his illness impacting on his ability to play.
In 2000, he played for the Barbarian against Leicester Tigers. He made 71 provincial appearances for Counties, for whom he scored 56 tries.
After two early matches with the Blues in the 2001 NPC, he ended his career.
After his career was cut short, it was revealed that he had been waiting for a kidney transplant for over a decade. Vidiri has left behind fond memories from the Super 12 rugby competition.
With his lethal team mate, the late Jonah Lomu, Vidiri formed a formidable partnership at provincial level for Counties-Manukau and for the Blues.
He made his first appearance for the All Blacks 7s at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and he won the gold medal with them.
Vidiri had speed to burn. He was a passionate, committed and dedicated player who played his heart out for the All Blacks, Counties Manukau and the Auckland Blues outfit.
Va’aiga Tuigamala, the dual-code rugby legend
Tributes also flowed for Va’aiga Tuigamala, who starred in rugby union and league.
On the rugby field, he was better known as ‘Inga the Winga’.
Tuigamala was a professional rugby union and rugby league player.
Born in Samoa, he represented New Zealand in rugby union, winning 19 caps, and later Samoa in both rugby league (two caps) and rugby union (23 caps).
He played in one rugby league and two Rugby World Cup. Tuigamala began his career in rugby union, and played provincially for Auckland.
He changed rugby football codes from rugby union to rugby league, and became an integral part of the successful Wigan team of the 90s.
He returned to union winning championships with London Wasps and Newcastle Falcons.
A centre and wing, Tuigamala was known as a powerful runner, much larger than most wings in rugby union.
Born in Faleasiu, Samoa, Tuigamala also played for Ponsonby and Auckland. In rugby league, Tuigamala markedly improved his fitness and played as a centre in a very strong and successful Wigan team, winning several trophies over four seasons.
He also played international rugby league for Samoa, including at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. At the end of 1996 Super League I, Tuigamala was named at centre in the Super League Dream Team.
When rugby union became openly professional in 1995, Tuigamala was one of a number of former rugby union players who returned
from rugby league.
He played for London Wasps, winning the English Premiership, and later joined Newcastle Falcons.
He made his debut for Samoa in 1996 against Ireland, going on to play 23 Test matches, scoring three tries. He was an important part of Samoa at the 1999 RWC.
Newcastle Falcons official Twitter account posted, “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Va’aiga (Inga) Tuigamala.
A true great of both codes who helped us win the 1997-98 Premiership title, Inga will be fondly remembered for his physicality on the field, and his friendship off it.”
He was a gentle man who cared about others players. He would tackle you hard but make sure you were fine before moving on.
He helped many, on and off the pitch. A player like Tuigamala is hard to find. He had so much energy and power. Rest high champ!
- RAJNESH LINGAM is a contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed are his and not necessarily of this newspaperor his employer
